Vibrant nightlife in downtown Tulsa offers something for everyone on any night (2025)

The sidewalks of downtown Tulsa seem to grow more crowded as the sun sets.

People flock to local bars and restaurants after work and can meet friends for a concert or drink any night of the week.

“Really, it’s so easy in Tulsa right now to find any one of the districts in our community and have a good time, whether (it’s) just a date night out or whether you’re going out with a group,” said David Tollette, 37, who goes out in Tulsa with his wife and friends.

It can be tough to narrow your plans to a few venues when there are options on every street corner, but we found that Tulsa has something for everyone to enjoy on a night out.

The bar scene

Venues with a wide range of craft beer options are neighbors to intimate dive-bars in Tulsa.

Start the night off at McNellie’s Pub, which serves more than 350 craft beers and a variety of food options. It’s located at 222 N. Main St. and is open 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday and 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Roof Sixty Six Bar, which is on the top floor of the Indigo Hotel at 121 S. Elgin Ave. is another way to start the night with drinks and food while enjoying a view of downtown Tulsa and the Blue Dome District.

McNellie’s Pub and Roof Sixty Six Bar are walking distance from bars such as The Tulsan Bar, and most other bars are within a two mile range of the area.

Daniel Jackson, a 22-year-old who works in Tulsa, described The Tulsan as your average bar, but it hosts bands and events, and it attracts a wide age range of bar-goers. He said the venue is darker, and most people enjoy dancing in the middle of the bar. Check it out at 412 E. Second St.

Saturn Room, on the other hand, is a place Jackson heard about years before he was the legal drinking age. He said he remembered hearing about it in high school.

“Definitely go there for all things, drinks, beer, wine, all kinds of Tiki, like, they go hard,” Jackson said.

Mercury Lounge is another venue with an eclectic environment and daily performances. The gas station turned dive-bar at 1747 S. Boston Ave. is open 2 p.m.- 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m.- 2 a.m. on Sundays.

Inner Circle Vodka Bar is a popular spot to enjoy trivia or time out on the patio. Located at 410 N. Main St., it’s a quiet venue with games and live music. It’s open 4 p.m.- 12 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 4 p.m.- 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Music and performances

A night out in Tulsa doesn’t have to revolve around the bar scene. Artists of all kinds perform in Tulsa every weekend, and you might even bump into them after a show.

Tollette said he’s been out at Tulsa bars after shows at Cain’s Ballroom or the Hunt Club when members from bands such as Flatland Cavalry and Turnpike Troubadours strolled in after playing at a local venue.

“The music seems really close knit around here,” Tollette said. “So there are just really fun times when a performer comes in (to the bars).”

Cain’s Ballroom, located at 423 N. Main St., hosts everything from up-and-coming country artists to comedy shows and even a Shrek rave on July 12. General admission to shows usually ranges from $10-$50. Cain’s is hosting a free show on July 25 at 7 p.m., where Hot Club of Cowtown will perform.

Cain’s is a good fit for those who don’t feel like bar hopping or catching an Uber to the next stop of the night. Visitors can grab a drink from the bar inside the venue and have dinner at Mac’s BBQ, the restaurant inside the venue.

Upcoming performances to look forward to include the Steel Woods with Bones Owens on July 26, The Head and the Heart with Phosphorescent on Aug. 9 and Muscadine Bloodline on Aug. 30. Mark your calendar for other fun events such as EMO NITE on Aug. 17 and Bored Teachers: The Struggle is Real! Comedy Tour on Aug. 11.

The Hunt Club, a popular music and comedy venue at 224 N. Main St. hosts six days of fun each week. Try to get a few laughs from the crowd at an open mic comedy night or stop by to listen to local artists put on a show.

The Hunt Club also has a full bar and food that visitors can enjoy while watching a show. This week’s agenda features JT and the Dirtbox Wailers on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Biscuits and Gravy on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Paul Benjamin on Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 1 a.m. and Joel T. Jones and Gary Sizemore on Sunday at 5 p.m.

If you’re looking to branch out from country and comedy, The Vanguard has a variety of performers playing each week. If you want to stick to country and comedy, it has options for you, too.

“It’s more of an intimate venue,” Tollette said. “It’s not super large, but the shows are really good.”

Upcoming shows at The Vanguard, located at 222 N Main St., include Mike Ryan and Emily Hollingshed on July 18, Tyler Halverson on July 20 and My So Called Band on Aug. 3. Admission to shows starts at $15-$30.

Hidden gems

A night out in Tulsa doesn’t have to end with a concert or at the bars.

St. Vitus, a dance club at 112 S. Elgin Ave. is open from 9 p.m.- 1:40 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. It has a dance floor, a bar and an outdoor area for those who need a breath of fresh air, and smoking is allowed outside. St. Vitus does not have a dress code, but it does have cover fee. It is walking distance from The Tulsan and Roof Sixty Six Bar and is less than a mile away from The Hunt Club and Cain’s Ballroom.

The Max Retropub is also walking distance from St. Vitus at 114 S. Elgin Ave. and is a 1980s themed arcade bar. Test your skills at skee-ball or an electronic game, or stop in for one of its bingo or trivia nights.

Breakfast the day after

It can be tough to crawl out of bed the morning after a night out, but these breakfast spots are worth waking up before noon.

Visit Silver Skillet Family Diner, located at 8228 E. 61st St. for a classic southern diner experience. It’s open 6 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday.

And if you can’t pull yourself off the couch or wake up before the sun is high in the sky, Tally’s Good Food Cafe is open until 10:45 p.m. and serves breakfast all day. Tally’s has two locations, one at 1102 S. Yale Ave. and another at 6100 S. Sheridan Road.

“I have personally been there a few times, and it’s just unbelievably good,” Jackson said. “And there’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, everything in between.”

Bramble Breakfast and Bar also serves all day breakfast and is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day at 1302 E. Sixth St. It also has a location in Broken Arrow at 121 N. Ash Ave., Broken Arrow.

“Bramble for a day after is always a great choice,” Tollette said. “You can have a coffee or mimosa and some really good food.”

The Tulsa World is where your story lives